Extinguisher charging system

ABSTRACT

A system for vacuum-filling fire extinguishers with a measured charge of discrete fire-retardant material. The system includes a vacuum source and vacuum control means, and one or more reservoirs of fire retardant material. A vacuum and filling conduit means selectively connect the vacuum control means and each reservoir with the extinguisher to be filled, and coupling and sealing means joins said conduit means to the extinguisher in a sealed relationship. Filtering means are also provided to filter the fire-retardant material from the vacuum system.

United States Patent 1 Getz [ Apr. 8, 1975 EXTlNGUlSl-[ER CHARGINGSYSTEM [76] Inventor: Melvin R. Getz, 1 10 Mt. Aire Dr.,

East Peoria, 111. 61611 221 Filed: May 14,1973

[211 App]. No; 359,928

[52] US. Cl. 141/83; 141/104; 141/286; 141/31 1 [51] Int. Cl B65b 3/28[58] Field of Search l4l/59, 286, 311, 392, 141/83,206,100,104,102,101,103,109, 106, 107

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,844 8/1915 Lieber141/286 1,325,991 12/1919 King 141/59 2.755.968 7/1956 Fiant 141/3113,078,685 2/1963 Flournoy 141/59 3.780.757 12/1973 Jordan 141/59 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 889,564 9/1953 Germany 141/59 PrimaryExaminer-HoustonS. Bell, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A system for vacuum-filling fire extinguishers with ameasured charge of discrete fire-retardant material. The system includesa vacuum source and vacuum control means, and one or more reservoirs offire retardant material. A vacuum and filling conduit means selectivelyconnect the vacuum control means and each reservoir with theextinguisher to be filled, and coupling and sealing means joins saidconduit means to the extinguisher in a sealed relationship. Filteringmeans are also provided to filter the fire-retardant material from thevacuum system.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures EXTINGUISHER CHARGING SYSTEM BACKGROUND ANDGENERAL DESCRIPTIGN This invention relates to a system forvacuum-filling fire extinguishers with powdered fire-retardantmaterials.

As wellknown in the fire-prevention field, standard cylindrical fireextinguishers must be recharged periodically with fresh fire-retardantmaterials, to maintain the extinguishers in an operative condition.Recharging obviously is also necessary after each extensive use of theextinguisher. Due to these requirements, a substantial industry hasdeveloped for providing fire extinguisher users with extinguisherrecharging service.

The extinguisher recharging techniques that have been standard in theindustry are generally slow, cumbersome and inefficient, and result insubstantial labor costs. Generally, the standard recharging is to fill ahost of various-sized extinguishers with the desired fireretardantpowder manually through the open orifice provided at the top of theextinguisher. Scoops and funnels are usually employed in an effort tominimize spillage of the powder and speed-up the charging process. Theseprior techniques have met with only partial success.

Accordingly, the principal purpose of this invention is to provide animproved vacuum-filling system for recharging fire extinguishers whichsubstantially minimizes the labor and time needed to fill a variety ofdifferent-sized extinguishers with a selected type of fireretardantpowder. The system in accordance with this invention also substantiallyreduces the loss of materials during the recharging operation, byproviding a closed system for controlling the material flow.

Briefly described, the system in accordance with this invention utilizesa partial vacuum force to fill empty fire extinguisher cylinders with ameasured charge of discrete fire retardant material. The system includesa station for receiving an empty and open extinguisher to be recharged.In the preferred arrangement, the station includes a scale for measuringthe weight of the material introduced into the extinguisher. A vacuumsystem including a source of vacuum and a control valve between anopened and a closed position is also provided. One or more reservoirs isincluded to store the material to be charged into the extinguishers.Vacuum and filling conduit means having movable ends are joined to thevacuum control valve and reservoir respectively. Coupling and sealingmeans are provided to join the movable ends of the conduit means insealed relationship to the different-sized orifices of a plurality ofextinguishers. Filter means are also provided to filter and collect thematerial to avoid contamination of the vacuum system. In accordance withthis invention the system is arranged so that selective movement of thecontrol valve from a closed to an open position with the conduitssecured within a fire extinguisher, draws a partial vacuum within theextinguisher through the vacuum conduit and thereby creates a pressuredifferential which rapidly draws the fire-retardant material from thereservoir into the extinguisher. In the preferred arrangement the systemis provided with a plurality of vacuum and filling conduits which areadapted to feed a plurality of different fire-retardant materialsselectively into the fire extinguisher being charged.

Further objects and features of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the system for vacuum-filling fireextinguishers in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the interface betweenthe vacuum-filling system and a fire extinguisher to be filled;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling and sealing meansincluded in the system, as viewed along the line 33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of thematerial reservoirs included in the fillingsystem, illustrating the manner in which the reservoirs are filled;

The vacuum filling system in accordance with this invention is generallyindicated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10. The system 10 isdesigned to rapidly charge empty fire extinguishers, such as anextinguisher 100, by creating a partial vacuum force within theextinguisher which causes firesuppressant powder to be drawn rapidlyinto the evacuated extinguisher within a matter of seconds. Moreover,the system 10 can be used with a variety of extinguishers 100, whichinclude inlet orifices 102 of varying diameters. In addition, thepreferred embodiment ofthe filling system 10 in accordance with thisinvention is adapted to selectively fill the fire extinguisher with anyone of a plurality of fire retardant powders, such as the standard BCpowder, Purple K powder, or ABC powder, in one simple and quickoperation.

As seen in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes an extinguisher fillingstation 20. Station 20 includes a suitable stand 22 and an extinguisherweighing scale 24. The extinguishers 100 to be filled are placed on thescale 24 at the station 20 during the filling operation. The scale 24registers the empty weight of the extinguisher 100, and is utilizedduring the filling operation to measure the amount of powderedfire-suppressant material being charged into the empty extinguisher. Thescale 24 therefore provides a ready measurement, by weight, of theamount of material charged into the extinguisher 100, and providesindicia which informs the operator of the system 10 when theextinguisher 100 has been completely filled.

The system 10 further includes a vacuum system 30 for creating a partialvacuum within the extinguisher 100, to initiate the extinguisher fillingoperation. As seen in FIG. 1, the vacuum system 30 includes the vaccumpump 32 mounted on top of a vacuum storage tank 34. A suction line 36,including an air filter 38, connects the storage tank 34 to the inletside of the pump 32. Similarly, an exhaust line 40 connects the outletside of the pump 32 to the atmosphere through an air filter and muffier44. The pump 32 is operated automatically through a suitable electricalpower source (not shown) by means of a vacuum switch 46.

The vacuum switch 46 is of standard construction, and

is placed in the suction line 36 between the tank 34 and the pump 32.The switch 46 is adapted to energize the pump 32 periodically, tomaintain a selective level of vacuum pressure within the vacuum storagetank 34. In the preferred embodiment, the switch 46 is set to energizethe pump 32 when the vacuum level within the storage tank 34 falls to 14inches of water vacuum pressure, and to de-energize the pump 32 afterthe tank 34 has been restored to 20 inches of water vacuum pressure. Aone-way check valve 42 of standard construction is provided in thesuction line 36 between the vaccum switch 46 and the pump 32 to maintainthe vacuum pressure within the tank 34. Thus, the vacuum system 30provides the filling system with a constantlyavailable source of vacuumpressure within the 14 to inch vacuum pressure range.

The vacuum system also includes a manual vacuum control console 50. Asseen in FIG. 1, the control console 50 incorporates a plurality ofvacuum control valves 52 AC. The valves 52 AC are manually movablebetween a closed position (as shown by valves 52 B and C) and an openedposition (as shown by the valve 52 A) to initiate the operation of thefilling system 10. A vacuum line 54 connects the inlet side of thevalves 52 AC to the vacuum storage tank 34. A vacuum gauge 56 isprovided in the line 54 to provide the operator with a readily availableindication of the level of vacuum pressure existing in the vacuum system30. An air filter 58 is provided in. the line 54 for filtering out smallparticles of the powdered fire-suppressant material which may enter thevacuum system, during the filling operation, to avoid contamination ofthe vacuum storage tank 34 and damage to the vacuum pump 32. It has beenfound that a suitable filter 58 is a combination cloth and papertank-type filter, such as available from Gast Manufacturing Co. ofBenton Harbor, Mich. under model No. 8OV460.

The vacuum system 30 also includes a plurality of suction conduits 60 ACconnected to the outlet side of the control valves 52 AC, respectively.The suction conduits 60 AC include movable ends which permit theconduits to be connected to the extinguisher 100 during the fillingoperation. Each of the conduits 60 AC are connected to one of the valves52 AC through a filter and collector device 62 AC. The filters 62 AC areadapted to filter and collect large particles of the fire-suppressantmaterial which may be drawn into the suction conduits 60 AC due to theoperation of the vacuum-filling system 10. It has been found that afiber jar-type filter, such as model AB609 by Gast Manufacturing Co. ofBenton Harbor, Mich., is suitable as the filters 62 AC, 44 and 38. Thus,the filters 62 AC, combined with the filter 58, protect the vacuumsystem 30 from contamination by either small or large particles of thepowdered material being charged into the extinguishers 100 during theoperation of the system in accordance with this invention.

The filling system 10 also includes components which house a readilyavailable supply of fire-suppressant material to be charged into theextinguishers 100 during the filling operation. The system 10 thus isprovided with a plurality of material storage reservoirs 70 AC. As seenin FIG. 1, each of the reservoirs 70 AC is pivotally mounted upon asuitable frame structure 72 in a position adjacent the filling station20. Each of the reservoirs 70 AC includes a removable cover plate 74, tocontain the powdered material within the reservoirs during the operationof the system. The covers 74 can be removed from the reservoirs to fillthe reservoirs 70 AC with a supply ofthe material to be employed in thesystem 10. The lower ends of the reservoirs 70 AC define conicaldischarge hoppers 76 AC. The hoppers 76 AC assist the gravity-feed ofthe powdered material from the reservoirs 70 AC during the fillingoperation. Filling conduits 78 AC are connected to the lower ends ofeach of the hoppers 76 AC, and have movable ends adapted to direct thematerial from each of the reservoirs 78 AC into the extinguisher 100.

The use of a plurality of reservoirs AC provides the system 10 withversatility, by permitting the system to be used to fill theextinguishers 100 with a variety of fire-suppressant materials, such asABC powder, Purple K powder, or the standard BC powder, by supplyingeach reservoir 70 AC with a different type of powder. In addition, thereservoir lids 74 can be color-coded to simplify the identification ofthe different types of powders used in the system 10.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 in the preferred arrangement the reservoirs 70AC include a hinge 79 between the reservoirs and the supporting framestructure 72. The hinge 79 has a removable hinge pin 79A, and isdesigned to facilitate the charging of the powdery firesuppressantmaterial into each of the reservoirs 70 AC. The construction of thehinge 79 permits the reservoirs 70 AC to be removed from the frame 72and telescoped over an open barrel B of powdered material. Then, asshown in FIG. 4, the hinge pin 79A can be replaced, and the barrel B andthe associated reservoir 70 AC can be easily pivoted about the hingeinto the upright position shown in FIG. 1. The inverted barrel B willthen be emptied into the reservoir 70 AC, and the cover 74 replaced. Thetelescoping of the barrel B within the reservoir prevents spillage ofthe powder from the barrel during the charging of the reservoirs 70 A-C.

The system 10 further includes a mechanism for coupling the movable endsof the filling conduits 78 AC and the suction conduits 60 AC togetherfor insertion into the open orifice 102 of the fire extinguisher 100 tobe filled. A sealing device is also provided to cooperate with thecoupling mechanism, to temporarily seal the orifice of the extinguisher100, during the vacuumfilling operation. Accordingly, as seen in FIGS. 1and 2, the system 10 includes a plurality of pipe unions 80 which eachcouple one of the suction conduits 60 AC to one of the filling conduits78 AC. The unions 80 include a material branch 80A and suction branch808. One of the filling conduits 78 A-C is connected to the materialbranch 80A of each union in a sealed relationship. As seen in FIG. 2,each branch 80A includes an elongate material sleeve 82 which extendsupwardly into the associated filling conduit 78 AC and downwardlythrough the union 80 into the interior of the extinguisher 100. Inaddition, the sleeve 82 operates in conjunction with union 80 to definean annular vacuum path 84, surrounding the sleeve 82 within the union.Spacers 84A maintain this annular path open. As seen in FIG. 2, thevacuum path 84 is in fluid communication with the suction branch 80B ofthe union 80. The union 80 thereby defines separate parallel flowpassages for the vacuum flow and material flow during the operation ofthe filling system. The suction union 80B is connected, in an air-tightrelationship, to one of the suction conduits 60 AC. The lower portion ofthe union 80 also includes external threads 86, or other suitablefastening means.

The system 10 in accordance with this invention further includes asealing plug for joining the union 80 to a fire extinguisher in a sealedrelationship with respect to the orifice 102. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the sealing plug 90 is conical in configuration, and is constructed froma flexible material, such as an elastomer, which provides a resilientouter sealing surface for the plug. The plug 90 has a major basediameter 92 and a minor base diameter 94 which are selected so that theplug 90 will engage, in a sealing relationship, with a plurality ofdifferent-sized extinguisher orifices 102. This arrangement isaccomplished by selecting the minor diameter 94 to be smaller than theanticipated minimum diameter of the extinguisher orifice 102 and byfurther selecting the major diameter 92 to be larger than the maximumanticipated diameter for the extinguisher orifice 102. In practice ithas been found that a major plug diameter 92 of approximately 3 /2inches, and a minor plug diameter 94 of approximately inches will adaptthe plug 90 for sealing within the orifice 102 ofa plurality ofconventional extinguishers 100 which are encountered in the field.

As clearly seen in FIG. 2, the axis of the conical plug 90 is providedwith a bore 96. The upper portion of the bore 96 includes internalthreads 98 which mate with the external threads 96 on the union 80, toseal the plug 90 in a fluid-tight arrangement with the union 80. Thebore 96 receives the sleeve 82, and also defines an annular path aroundthe sleeve 82 which connects with the vacuum line 60 AC through theannular path 84 and the suction branch 80B. The plug bore 96 therebyprovides paths for the entry of the material from one of the conduits 78A-C into the extinguisher 100 through the sleeve and for evacuating theinterior of the extinguisher 100 through the suction branch 808.

The operation of the system in accordance with this invention isapparent from the above description. As explained above, the vacuumsystem operates automatically, through the vacuum switch 46, to maintaina selected vacuum pressure level within the vacuum tank 34. Accordingly,the extinguisher filling operation is started by placing an emptyextinguisher 100 on the scale 24 at the filling station 20. Then, theoperator of the system 10 selects the type of firesuppressant materialwhich is to be drawn into the extinguisher 100 from the variety ofmaterials provided in a separate material reservoir 70 AC. Assuming thatthe material contained within 70A is to be charged into the extinguisher100, the operator then inserts the associated plug 90 and union 80 intothe orifice 102 of the extinguisher 100. The interface between theextinguisher orifice 102 and plug 90 in this filling position is fullyillustrated in FIG. 2. Next, the operator manually moves the controlvalve 52A from the closed position to the opened position, therebycoupling the suction conduit 60A to the vacuum system 30. Upon openingof the control valve 52A, the vacuum pressure within the vacuum system30 creates a vacuum force to the interior of the extinguisher 100through the line 60A, the suction branch 80B of the union 80, and theannular path 84. As illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2, the airentrained within the extinguisher 100 is thereby evacuated from theextinguisher 100 along an upward flow path through the bore 96 in theplug 90. The creation of a vacuum pressure in the interior of theextinguisher 100 also assists in sealing the extinguisher 100 bycreating a differetial pressure which draws the plug and the associatedhopper 76A assists the movement of the material from the reservoir A bydirecting the material to the conduit 78A by the force of gravity. Thematerial flows from the reservoir 70A through the filling conduit 78Aand the sleeve 82 into the fire extinguisher 100. The extension of thesleeve 82 through the plug bore 96, and into the interior of theextinguisher minimizes the introduction of the powdered material intothe vacuum system 30 during the operation of the system 10. The operatorholds the control valve 52A open until the scale 24 indicates that theselected amount e.g., 10 pounds) of material has been charged into theextinguisher 100.

During the operation of the system 10, the air evacuated from thecylinder 100 by the vacuum system 30, including a small amount ofentrained powdered material is drawn toward the vacuum system 30 by thenegative pressure in the conduit 60A. This air with the entrainedmaterial, is passed through the filter 62A so that all larger particlesof the material are collected in the filter 62A before the air reachesthe valve 52A. The filter 62A is emptied periodically, and the materialcollected therein is returned to the associated material reservoir 70A.The returning evacuated air from the conduit 60A is filtered a secondtime by the tank filter 58, to remove any finer material particlesbefore the air is returned to the vacuum storage tank 34. The dualfiltering by the filters 62A and 58 also adapts the system 10 to handlea plurality of fire-suppressant materials having different particlesizes.

When the valve 52 is moved to a closed position, the suction force ofthe vaccum system 30 is stopped and the filling operation of theextinguisher 100 is completed. The extinguisher 100 is then removed fromthe filling station 20. The filling operation as described above can berepeated to fill additional extinguishers 100, having a variety oforifice sizes, with any type of material contained within the separatematerial storage reservoirs 70 A-C. The extinguisher 100 can be filled,

. in the same manner, with the material from the reservoir 70B byoperation of the control valve 52B, and by coupling the free ends of thelines 60B and 78B with the extinguisher 100. Likewise, the extinguisher100 can be filled with the material from the reservoir 70C by operationof the vacuum control valve 52C, and by coupling the lines 60C and 78Cto the extinguisher.

Although the invention has been described above with a certain degree ofparticularity with respect to several embodiments, it should beunderstood that this disclosure has been made only by way of example.Consequently, numerous changes in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the components as well as the possiblemodes of utilization for the extinguisher charging system in accordancewith this invention will be apparent to those familiar with the art, andmay be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for vacuum-filling a plurality of types of fireextinguishers having varying physical characteristics and requiringdiffering types of discrete fireretardant powdered material comprising:

a filling station for receiving a variety of empty fire extinguishershaving varying capacities and an open orifice of differing diametersthrough which the extinguisher is to be filled;

a vacuum system including a vacuum source;

means providing a plurality of separate sources of different types ofdiscrete fire-retardant material;

a plurality of filling conduits each having one end connectable in fluidcommunication with the discrete material from one of said sources andhaving a movable end connectable to the open orifice of the extinguisherto be filled at the filling station;

a plurality of vacuum conduits each having one end connectable to saidvacuum source and having a movable end connectable to the open orificeof the extinguisher to be filled at the filling station;

coupling means joining one of said filling conduits to one of saidvacuum conduits and adapted to simultaneously connect said coupledconduits with the open orifice of the extinguisher to be filled at saidfilling station;

sealing means joined to each pair of coupled conduits and adapted toseal each of said differing diameter extinguisher orifices from thesurrounding atmosphere when said coupled conduits are secured within theorifice; and

material selection means for coordinating the type and volume ofmaterial discharged from said material sources with the type andcapacity of the extinguisher at said filling station, said selectionmeans including multiposition control valve means, arranged to provideeach pair of coupled conduits with a valve movable to an opened positioncoupling the connected vacuum conduit to said vacuum source to create apartial vacuum with the extinguisher secured to said coupled conduitsand rapidly flow discrete fire-retardant material from a selected one ofsaid sources into said extinguisher through the coupled filling conduit,said valve in each pair of coupled conduits further being movable to aclosed position to stop the flow of said selected discrete materialthrough the coupled filling conduit when said extinguisher at saidfilling station is filled to capacity.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said filling station forreceiving an empty fire extinguisher includes weighing means so thatoperation of said system can be controlled to draw a selected weight ofdiscrete fire-retardant material into the extinguisher.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vacuum systemincludes a sealed vacuum storage tank, pumping means to maintain aselected vacuum pressure within said tank. and a second vacuum conduitcoupling said tank to said control valve means so that said tankprovides a continuous vacuum force for filling a plurality ofextinguishers successively, and further wherein said system includes aparticle filter provided in each of said vacuum conduits to preventdiscrete fire-retardant material from entering said vacuum storage tankand pumping means.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each material sourcecomprises a storage hopper having a downwardly converging floor sectiondefining an outlet port for said material and wherein said fillingconduit is coupled to said outlet port.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sealing meanscomprises a frusto-conical plug having a major base diameter larger thanthe maximum orifice diameter of said variety of extinguishers and aminor base diameter smaller than the maximum orifice diameter thereof sothat said plug is dimensioned to be received within the varying orificesofa plurality of extinguishers, said plug including a bore defining aflow conduit permitting the evacuation of said extinguishers and theflow of fire-retardant material into said extinguishers through saidplug, and further including a resilent exterior conical surface whichpermits the evacuating of an extinguisher through said conduit to drawsaid exterior surface into secure sealing engagement with the orifice ofthe extinguisher being vacuum-filled, and coupling means extendingthrough said bore and defining separate parallel passageways toseparately connect the movable ends said vacuum and filling conduits incommunication with the interior of the extinguisher.

6. A system for vacuum-filling a plurality of types of fireextinguishers having varying physical characteristics and requiringdiffering types of discrete fireretardant powdered material comprising:

a filling station for receiving a variety of empty fire extinguishershaving varying capacities and an open orifice of differing diametersthrough which the extinguisher is to be filled;

a vacuum system including a vacuum source;

a plurality of separate reservoirs for housing a supply of differenttypes of discrete fire-retardant material;

a plurality of filling conduits each having one end connectable in fluidcommunication with the discrete material in one of said reservoirs andhaving a movable end connectable to the open orifice of the extinguisherto be filled at the filling station;

a plurality of vacuum conduits each having one end connectable to saidvacuum source and having a movable end connectable to the open orificeof the extinguisher to be filled at the filling station;

coupling means joining one of said filling conduits to one of saidvacuum conduits and adapted to simultaneously connect said coupledconduits with the open orifice of the extinguisher to be filled at saidfilling station;

sealing means joined to each pair of coupled filling and vacuum conduitsand adapted to seal each of said differing diameter extinguisherorifices from the surrounding atmosphere when said coupled pair ofconduits is secured within the orifice;

material section means for coordinating the type and volume of materialdischarged from said reservoirs with the type and capacity of theextinguisher at said filling station, said selection means including aseparate multi-position control valve for each of said vacuum conduits,with each valve movable between an opened position coupling theconnected vacuum conduit to said vacuum source and creating a vacuumforce in said connected vacuum conduit and a closed position whichpromptly eliminates said vacuum force in said connected vacuum conduit,so that selective movement of one of said control valves from saidclosed to said opened position with the coupled vacuum and fillingconduits secured within a fire extinguisher orifice, draws a partialvacuum within said extinguisher through said vacuum conduit by means ofsaid vacuum force and thereby creates a pressure differential whichrapidly draws discrete fire-retardant material from a selected one ofsaid reservoirs into the extinguisher through the coupled fillingconduit, and further wherein the selective movement of one of saidcontrol valves from said opened position to said closed positionpromptly stops the flow of said fire-retardant material through thecoupled filling conduit. into the extinguisher, when said extinguisheris filled to capacity, and promptly eliminates said vacuum force byventing said coupled filling conduit and said filled extinguisher toatmosphere pressure.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 including a plurality of filtermeans provided in said vacuum system adapted to separately filter andcollect said discrete material from each of said vacuum conduits andthereby prevent intermixing of said varying types of said material andcontamination of said vacuum source.

8. A system for selectively vacuum-filling a plurality of types of fireextinguishers having varying physical characteristics and requiringdiffering types of discrete fire-retardant material comprising:

a filling station for receiving a variety of empty fire extinguishershaving varying capacities and differing open orifice diameters throughwhich the extinguisher is to be filled;

a vacuum system including a vacuum source;

means providing a plurality of separate sources of different types ofdiscrete fire-retardant material;

filling conduit means having one end connectable in fluid communicationwith the discrete material in one of said material sources and having amovable end;

vacuum conduit means having one end connectable to said vacuum sourceand having a movable end; with the movable ends of said filling andvacuum conduit means being adapted for simultaneous connection with theopen orifice of the extinguisher selected to be filled at said fillingstation;

sealing means joined to the movable ends of said filling and vacuumconduit means and sealing each of said differing diameter extinguisherorifices from the surrounding atmosphere when said movable ends of saidfilling and vacuum conduits are secured within the orifice of anextinguisher at the filling station; and

selection means for coordinating the type and volume of discrete fireretardant material to be discharged from said sources with the type andphysical characteristics of an extinguisher at said filling stationwhich is selected from a group of extinguishers having differing openorifice diameters, said selection means including valve means coupled tosaid vacuum conduit means and movable between an opened and a closedposition with the movement of said valve means into said opened positioncreating a partial vacuum in the selected extinguisher at said fillingstation by coupling said extinguisher to said vacuum source through saidvacuum conduit means and charging 5 selected one of said types ofdiscrete fire-retardant material into said selected extinguisher from aselected material source through said filling conduit means, and withthe movement of said valve means into said closed position coordinatingthe volume of said selected discrete material charged into said selectedextinguisher with the capacity and type of extinguisher being filledthrough said filling conduit means by selectively reducing the partialvacuum within the extinguisher at said filling station and therebyreducing the flow of the selected discrete material from the selectedsource through said filling conduit means.

9. A system for filling fire extinguishers with discrete fire-retardantmaterial in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said materialsources comprises a material reservoir which is readily charged fromsupply containers of discrete material including a hopper for receivingsaid discrete material, support means for said hopper, and pivotalconnecting means operatively joining said hopper to said frame to alignsaid hopper with a supply container of said material and pivot saidhopper and aligned container together with respect to said frame andthereby charge said material to the hopper from the container.

1. A system for vacuum-filling a plurality of types of fireextinguishers having varying physical characteristics and requiringdiffering types of discrete fire-retardant powdered material comprising:a filling station for receiving a variety of empty fire extinguishershaving varying capacities and an open orifice of differing diametersthrough which the extinguisher is to be filled; a vacuum systemincluding a vacuum source; means providing a plurality of separatesources of different types of discrete fire-retardant material; aplurality of filling conduits each having one end connectable in fluidcommunication with the discrete material from one of said sources andhaving a movable end connectable to the open orifice of the extinguisherto be filled at the filling station; a plurality of vacuum conduits eachhaving one end connectable to said vacuum source and having a movableend connectable to the open orifice of the extinguisher to be filled atthe filling station; coupling means joining one of said filling conduitsto one of said vacuum conduits and adapted to simultaneously connectsaid coupled conduits with the open orifice of the extinguisher to befilled at said filling station; sealing means joined to each pair ofcoupled conduits and adapted to seal each of said differing diameterextinguisher orifices from the surrounding atmosphere when said coupledconduits are secured within the orifice; and material selection meansfor coordinating the type and volume of material discharged from saidmaterial sources with the type and capacity of the extinguisher at saidfilling station, said selection means including multiposition controlvalve means, arranged to provide each pair of coupled conduits with avalve movable to an opened position coupling the connected vacuumconduit to said vacuum source to create a partial vacuum with theextinguisher secured to said coupled conduits and rapidly flow discretefire-retardant material from a selected one of said sources into saidextinguisher through the coupled filling conduit, said valve in eachpair of coupled conduits further being movable to a closed position tostop the flow of said selected discrete material through the coupledfilling conduit when said extinguisher at said filling station is filledto capacity.
 2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fillingstation for receiving an empty fire extinguisher includes weighing meansso that operation of said system can be controlled to draw a selectedweight of discrete fire-retardant material into the extinguisher.
 3. Asystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vacuum system includes asealed vacuum storage tank, pumping means to maintain a selected vacuumpressure within said tank, and a second vacuum conduit coupling saidtank to said control valve means so that said tank provides a continuousvacuum force for filling a plurality of extinguishers successively, andfurther wherein said system includes a particle filter provided in eachof said vacuum conduits to prevent discrete fire-retardant material fromentering said vacuum storage tank and pumping means.
 4. A system inaccordance with claim 1 wherein each material source comprises a storagehopper having a downwardly converging floor section defining an outletport for said material and wherein said filling conduit is coupled tosaid outlet port.
 5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidsealing means comprises a frusto-conical plug having a major basediameter larger than the maximum orifice diameter of said variety ofextinguishers and a minor base diameter smaller than the maximum orificediameter thereof so that said plug is dimensioned to be received withinthe varying orifices of a plurality of extinguishers, said plugincluding a bore defining a flow conduit permitting the evacuation ofsaid extinguishers and the flow of fire-retardant material into saidextinguishers through said plug, and further including a resilentexterior conical surface which permits the evacuating of an extinguisherthrough said conduit to draw said exterior surface into secure sealingengagement with the orifice of the extinguisher being vacuum-filled, andcoupling means extending through said bore and defining separateparallel passageways to separately connect the movable ends said vacuumand filling conduits in communication with the interior of theextinguisher.
 6. A system for vacuum-filling a plurality of types offire extinguishers having varying physical characteristics and requiringdiffering types of discrete fire-retardant powdered material comprising:a filling station for receiving a variety of empty fire extinguishershaving varying capacities and an open orifice of differing diametersthrough which the extinguisher is to be filled; a vacuum systemincluding a vacuum source; a plurality of separate reservoirs forhousing a supply of different types of discrete fire-retardant material;a plurality of filling conduits each having one end connectable in fluidcommunication with the discrete material in one of said reservoirs andhaving a movable end connectable to the open orifice of the extinguisherto be filled at the filling station; a plurality of vacuum conduits eachhaving one end connectable to said vacuum source and having a movableend connectable to the open orifice of the extinguisher to be filled atthe filling station; coupling means joining one of said filling conduitsto one of said vacuum conduits and adapted to simultaneously connectsaid coupled conduits with the open orifice of the extinguisher to befilled at said filling station; sealing means joined to each pair ofcoupled filling and vacuum conduits and adapted to seal each of saiddiffering diameter extinguisher orifices from the surrounding atmospherewhen said coupled pair of conduits is secured within the orifice;material section means for coordinating the type and volume of materialdischarged from said reservoirs with the type and capacity of theextinguisher at said filling station, said selection means including aseparate multi-position control valve for each of said vacuum conduits,with each valve movable between an opened position coupling theconnected vacuum conduit to said vacuum source and creating a vacuumforce in said connected vacuum conduit and a closed position whichpromptly eliminates said vacuum force in said connected vacuum conduit,so that selective movement of one of said control valves from saidclosed to said opened position with the coupled vacuum and fillingconduits secured within a fire extinguisher orifice, draws a partialvacuum within said extinguisher through said vacuum conduit by means ofsaid vacuum force and thereby creates a pressure differential whichrapidly draws discrete fire-retardant material from a selected one ofsaid reservoirs into the extinguisher through the coupled fillingconduit, and further wherein the selective movement of one of saidcontrol valves from said opened position to said closed positionpromptly stops the flow of said fire-retardant material through thecoupled filling conduit into the extinguisher, when said extinguisher isfilled to capacity, and promptly eliminates said vacuum force by ventingsaid coupled filling conduit and said filled extinguisher to atmospherepressure.
 7. A system in accordance with claim 6 including a pluralityof filter means provided in said vacuum system adapted to separatelyfilter and collect said discrete material from each of said vacuumconduits and thereby prevent intermixing of said varying types of saidmaterial and contamination of said vacuum source.
 8. A system forselectively vacuum-filling a plurality of types of fire extinguishershaving varying physical characteristics and requiring differing types ofdiscrete fire-retardant material comprising: a filling station forreceiving a variety of empty fire extinguishers having varyingcapacities and differing open orifice diameters through which theextinguisher is to be filled; a vacuum system including a vacuum source;means providing a plurality of separate sources of different types ofdiscrete fire-retardant material; filling conduit means having one endconnectable in fluid communication with the discrete material in one ofsaid material sources and having a movable end; vacuum conduit meanshaving one end connectable to said vacuum source and having a movableend; with the movable ends of said filling and vacuum conduit meansbeing adapted for simultaneous connection with the open orifice of theextinguisher selected to be filled at said filling station; sealingmeans joined to the movable ends of said filling and vacuum conduitmeans and sealing each of said differing diameter extinguisher orificesfrom the surrounding atmosphere when said movable ends of said fillingand vacuum conduits are secured within the orifice of an extinguisher atthe filling station; and selection means for coordinating the type andvolume of discrete fire retardant material to be discharged from saidsources with the type and physical characteristics of an extinguisher atsaid filling station which is selected from a group of extinguishershaving differing open orifice diameters, said selection means includingvalve means coupled to said vacuum conduit means and movable between anopened and a closed position with the movement of said valve means intosaid opened position creating a partial vacuum in the selectedextinguisher at said filling station by coupling said extinguisher tosaid vacuum source through said vacuum conduit means and charging sselected one of said types of discrete fireretardant material into saidselected extinguisher from a selected material source through saidfilling conduit means, and with the movement of said valve means intosaid closed position coordinating the volume of said selected discretematerial charged into said selected extinguisher with the capacity andtype of extinguisher being filled through said filling conduit means byselectively reducing the partial vacuum within the extinguisher at saidfilling station and thereby reducing the flow of the selected discretematerial from the selected source through said filling conduit means. 9.A system for filling fire extinguishers with discrete fire-retardantmaterial in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said materialsources comprises a material reservoir which is readily charged fromsupply containers of discrete material including a hopper for receivingsaid discrete material, support means for said hopper, and pivotalconnecting means operatively joining said hopper to said frame to alignsaid hopper with a supply container of said material and pivot saidhopper and aligned container together with respect to said frame andthereby charge said material to the hopper from the container.